Man who worked with children facing 100 felony counts of possessing child sex abuse material
A man who worked with children is now facing 100 felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators said they uncovered some of the most disturbing images and videos they have ever seen.
According to police, they found thousands during a search of his phone and are still analyzing the rest.
"This is a very large number of images and videos," said Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible. "Maybe one of the largest that I've seen since I've been here."
What began as an investigation into an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl quickly turned into a much larger child exploitation investigation.
Bible said what investigators found on Luke Poteete's phone is difficult to comprehend. He said more than 2,500 images and videos were found.
Some of that material allegedly showed the rape of toddlers, children being sexually assaulted by adults, and other graphic abuse involving animals. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard
"They dumped his phone and just found 2,500 or so images and videos of just some of the most horrific child pornography that probably exists," Bible said.
Bible said a 12-year-old victim came forward last year, telling investigators she met Poteete while he was sitting in on classes at New Brighton Area Middle School as a Geneva College student. She told police that Poteete bought alcohol for her and a friend before allegedly raping her in the back of a vehicle.
None of it would have come to light if that 12-year-old hadn't come forward.
"Without her bravery, we would have no idea what was on the phone," Bible said.
So far, 100 felony counts have been filed, but Bible stressed that only represents a fraction of what investigators found. He said they chose to move quickly to get Poteete off the streets while investigators work to determine whether there are any local victims connected to the evidence that was recovered.
Meanwhile, Geneva College said that Poteete hasn't been a student since the 2025 fall semester, and they are not permitted to comment on any student records, but they did provide the following statement.
"As an institution, we remain committed to campus safety and the integrity of our community values. We will cooperate with any law enforcement inquiries we may receive."
Citigroup Executive Gets 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drugging, Sexually Abusing Women as Young as 17
Citigroup executive Edward Gene Smith was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for drugging and sexually assaulting women, including a victim who was as young as 17, after prosecutors said he used his position to lure and abuse vulnerable women over nearly a decade.
U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer handed down the sentence in Manhattan federal court after Smith, 50, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, receipt of child pornography and obstruction of justice, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors said Smith also received a lifetime term of supervised release.
Authorities said Smith targeted women online and arranged to meet them in New York, where he drugged them and committed sexual assaults while they were incapacitated, according to People.
Prosecutors said he used promises of money and support to draw in victims who were financially vulnerable, then attacked them at his Central Park South residence and other locations. They said his conduct continued from 2015 through 2024.
The government said Smith admitted drugging one woman with the intent to rape her and enticing another to travel to New York before assaulting her there.
Read more: Ex-Cop Wanted for Sexual Abuse and Murder of Wife Brought From China After 20 Years on the Run
Prosecutors also said he maintained child sexual abuse material and other explicit files, and that he took photographs and video of some victims while they were unconscious, ABC News reported.
In court, Smith's lawyers argued that autism spectrum disorder was the main factor behind his crimes, but prosecutors rejected that explanation.
Citigroup said it moved to terminate Smith after learning of the investigation and said it cooperated with law enforcement.
The bank called the conduct "depraved behavior" and said it worked with authorities to help seek justice for the victims. Prosecutors said Smith's role at a major financial firm helped him hide his behavior behind a polished public image, as per Justice.
Former Stafford County Sheriff's Office sergeant charged with possession of child pornography
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A former Stafford County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been charged with possession of child pornography, officials say.
Documents from an Alexandria District Court revealed that Justin Thomas Lee Forman received child sex abuse materials during the time that he was employed as a patrol sergeant with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities began investigating Forman around June 2026, after the FBI received a tip relating to an account associated with him that was being used to acquire child sexual abuse material.
On July 30, the FBI executed federal search warrants at Forman’s home in Fredericksburg and seized his personal electronic devices — 16 in total — including an iPhone.
According to an FBI affidavit, investigators found messages on Forman’s iPhone showing he allegedly purchased and received illegal images and videos from Telegram accounts in 2023 and 2024, including transactions made through PayPal and cryptocurrency.
According to the court documents, Forman was sent approximately 300 videos and 11 images. Authorities say that while not all of the materials have been reviewed, the majority appear to be child sex abuse material.
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